Scaffolding



Aug. 18, 1925. 1,550,364.

F.B.JOHN$TON SCAFFOLDING Filed Feb. 28, 1924 IN VEN T0 Patented Aug. 18,1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I'RANK B. OHNSTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SAFETYDEVICE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SGAFIOLDING. I

Application filed February 28, 1924. Serial No. 695,662.

This invention relates to scaffolding and has for its primary object toprovide certain improvements in scaffolding such as is used by masons orworkmen 1n the erection of a building in which there is rovided anunobstructed workmens plat orm and means for supporting the mortar,brick or other materials so that the same will be easily accessible andnot necessitate frequent stooping by the workmen.

More particularly, I propose in one em bodiment of my presentimprovements to provide a main material receiving platform suitablysupported by hoisting devices, and a subjacent workmens platformsuspended from the material receiving platform and extending laterallybeyond one side thereof.

It-is one of the important objects of my present disclosure to provideadjustable 7 means for suspending the workmens platform from thematerial receiving platform whereby the former may be readily adjustedand positioned so that it will not encounter cormces or otherprojections from the wall being erected as the scaffolding is raised orlowered. This suspending means for the workmens platform has anotherimportant advantage, in that should one of the hoisting cables break,the weight of the materials on the main platform will cause the workmensplatform to be automatically swung inwardly and tightly bear against theface'of the building wall so that through the medium of the suspendingmeans, the main platform with the materials thereon will be sustainedagainst complete collapse. The improved scaffolding also enables themain platform to be loaded with the materials without interference withthe workmen upon the subjacent platform.

It is a further general object of the invention to provide scalfoldingof the above character the several parts of which may be easily andquickl connected in operative relation, and-whic is strong andsubstantial while relatively light in weight.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved scaftion whereby folding and in the form, construction and theworkmens platform in normal position with respect to the building wallin full lines and in dotted lines in an adjusted posisaid platform maypass a projecting cornice in the vertical adjustment of the scaffolding;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the scaffolding;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1 and,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating another adjustmentof the workmens platform, whereby the latter may be positioned closelyadjacent the face of the wall between vertical piers or columns.

As herein shown, the main platform which supports the mortar, bricks andother masonry materials, consists of a plurality of boards 5 which arelaid in parallel relation in a common plane and supported upon spacedputlogs each of which consists of a pair of angle bars or beams 6disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other. At their oppositeends these angle bars have 7 their vertical flanges connected by thespaced bolts 7 which are engaged upon the base portion of the angularstirrup or frame 8 of a hoisting device, said base portion of the framebeing positioned between the angle bars 6. The outer boards 5 of theplatform also extend between the parallel upwardly projecting sideportions of the frame 8. Thus it will be understood that the boards ofthe platform and the angle bars 6 constituting the spaced ,putlogs aresubstantially locked together so that their independent relativemovement transversely of the scaffolding is prevented.

The hoisting devices above referred to constitute no-essential featureof my pres ent disclosure and may be of any'approved detailconstruction. However, 1 preferably a said platforms by means of thelink secure to the outer side of each stirrup of frame 8, the lower endof an upright 9. These uprights are provided for the purpose ofsupporting a cover or canopy (not shown) which serves as a protectionfor the workmen or masons so that they will not be injured. by materialsfalling from above.

To the vertically positioned flanges of each ofthe angle bars 6, bracketplates 10 are secured by the bolts 11 at points adjacent the oppositeends of said angle bars. Between these brackets, the upper endsof thesuspension bars 12 are pivotally suported upon the bolts or rivets 13.'The ower ends of said bars 12 extend between the transversely positionedangle bars 14 to which-theyare pivotally connected by the bolts 15. Thebars 14 at one of their ends extend a considerable distance laterallybeyound one of the suspending bars 12, said projecting ends of the anglebars 14 throughout the length of the scaffolding being connected witheach other by the relatively wide longitudinally extending plate.

16. Between this plate and the suspension bars 12 next adjacent to thewall of the building being erected, the boards 17 constituting theworkmens platform are positioned upon the ends of the bars 14. Thus itwill be seen from reference to Figure 1 that when the suspension bars 12are perpendicularl positioned, the workmens platform 1 projectslaterally beyond the edge of the material receiving platform 5.

The subjacent workmens platform may be laterally adjusted with respectto the platform 5 and the suspension bars 12 retained in various angularpositions with resppct to ar 18 one end of which may be adjustablyconnected with the suspension bar 12 which is next adjacent to theworkmens platform 17 by means of the bolt 19, said bolt being engagedthrough any one of the series of longitu-' dinally spaced openings 20 inthe suspension bar. Intermediate of its ends the link bar 18 is twistedso that the free end thereof is disposed in a plane at right angles tothe end portion of the bar which is connected to the suspension bar 12.This free end of the.

hnk bar terminates in a sleeve 21 which is 'ada ted to be disposedbetween the spaced ang e bars 6 of the put log to receive the bolt 22.Each of the angle bars is provided with longitudinally spaced boltreceiving open-' platform 17 in lateral spaced relation be platform 5and rigidly retain the workmens platform in such position that thelongitudinally extending plate is disposed closely adjacent to the faceof the wall being erected. As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, when theworkman or mason is positioned on the platform 17 the material receivingplatform is of such elevation above the workmens platform that theworkmen may have easy access to the materialson the latter platformwithout stooping 0r bending from an erect or standing position. Thus theerection of the building wall will be greatly expedited. Also, it willbe seen that owing to the provision of the subjacent workmen s platform17, the materials may be loaded upon the platform 5 without in anwayobstructing the movements of the wor en, thereby further eliminatinloss of time in the building operation. f course it will be understoodthat the scafiolding' may be so constructed that the platform 5 issufliciently'wide to receive wheel-barrows and permit workmen to easilypass each other, or on the other hand, this platform may if desired, bemade relatively narrow.

In many cases, the wall being erected is provided with one or morecornices or ornamental projections such as is indicated at 24, and if itis necessary to raise or lower the sc'afiolding, the workmens platformmay be readily positioned as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the"drawings so as to permit said platform to safely pass by said cornice100 or projection by merely adjusting the connection of the link bars 18to the supporting ,putlog for the platform 5. After the scaffolding hasbeen properly adjusted by means of the hoisting devices, the connectionof the link bars 18 with the putlogs is again changed so as to returnthe workmens platform to its former position closely adjacent to theface of the building wall.

i As shown in Figure 5, the workmens platform may also be projectedoutwardly further beyond the side of the main platform 5 to extendbetween vertical piers or columns of the building wall by adjusting theconnections between the link bars 18 and the suspending bars 12 havingthe openings 20 therein which'adjustably receive the pivot bolts 19..Thus it will be seen that the improved scaffolding is readily adaptablefor.

use in connection with various conditions which may be encountered inthe erection of buildings of various types of architecture.

.It will also be noted from the foregoing de- Y scription that theweight of the materials on the platform 5 is disposed outwardly of theworkmens platform 17. Therefore, in the event that one of the suspensioncables should break, articularly in the arrangement shown in igure 1,the sagging of the main platform would cause the subjacent workmensplatform to be swung inwardly towards the face .of the building wallthrough the connections between the putlogs 7.and the bars 14. The plate16 being thus forcedinto tight bearing engagement aganst the face of thewall will sustain the scaffolding against complete collapse until thenecessary repairs can be made.

From the foregoing descriptlon considered-in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the construction, mannerof operation and severaladvantages of my improved scaffolding will beclearly and fullyunderstood. It will, be seen that the apparatus is relatively" simpleand that the several parts employed can be easily and quickly connectedin proper operative relation. By the provision of the separate workmensplatform suspended below the main platform in the manner explained, it

is obvious that the work may be greatly facilitated. Ihe scaffoldstructure as here in described is such as to'provide a very rigidandsubstantial working platform for the workman upon which he may freelymove without obstruction while at the same time he can have easy accessto the masonry materials without frequent bending or stooping or otherundue exertion. When thescaifolding is not in use, the several partsthereof may be disconnected and very compactly arranged for storagepurposes.

I have herein illustrated and described an embodiment of my presentimprovements which I have found to be entirely practical in operation.Nevertheless, it will be understood that the present disclosure ismerely for theopurpose of illustration and that the several novel"features of my invention might be exemplified in numerous otheralternative structures. Accordingly, I reserve the privilege ofresorting to all such legitimate changes in the form, construction andrelative arrangement of the several parts .as may be fairly embodiedwithin the-spirit and scope .of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. Scaffolding, comprising a material receiving platform, a subjacentWorkmens platform, adjustable suspension means susthe workmens' platformin suspende relation. to the material receiving platfo 'm, andmeans'conne'cted between said platforms for positioning the workmensplatform under or vadjustably to one side of'said material receivingplatform.

2. Scaffolding, comprising a material receiving platform, a' workmensplatform, and means for suspending the workmens platform in subjacentrelation tothe material receiving platform,-said means includingpivotally movable suspension bars, and adjustable link bar connectionsbetween suspension bars and the material receiving platform wherebytheworkmens platform may be located in various transversely adjustedpositions with respect to the material receiving platform.

3. Scaffolding, comprising putlogs having hoistingdevices connectedtherewith and a material receiving platform supported up on saidputlogs, a workmens platform, and means for suspending the workmensplatform in subjacent relation to the material receiving platform, saidmeans including supporting bars for the workmens platform, suspensionbars pivotally connected with said supporting bars and'with the putlogs,and adjustable link bar connections between certain ofv said suspensionbars and the putlogs whereby said workmens plat- 4. Scafiolding,comprising a material receivlng platform, a workmens platform havingsupporting bars extending transversely under said material platformandin subjacent. relation thereto, a pair of parallel supporting linkspivotally connectedwith each of said bars and with the receivingplatform whereby said workmens platform is adapted to swing transverselywith respect to said material platform from one position with respectthereto to another, and a rigidly connected member between the materialplatform and a supporting link of the workmens platform for securingsaid workmens platform in various positions.

with respect to said material platform.

5. Scaffolding,comprising a material receiving platform, a subjacentworkmens platform projecting laterally beyond one 'side of the materialreceiving platform,

means whereby said workmens platform may be moved sidewise with respectto said material receiving platform, a rigid connecting member betweenthe two platforms for securing the wordrm'ens platform in adjustedposition, means above thematerial receiving platform for suspending thetwoplatforms as a unit at various elevations, and means mounted on theupper side of the receiving platform for raising orlowering theplatforms while the workmens platform is held in its adjusted position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invent1on,I have signed myname hereto.

' FRANK B. JOHNSTON.

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